Kiely murder trial hears evidence form pathologist

The trial of a 22-year-old Co Cork man accused of the rape and murder of Rachel Kiely was told by the State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy that the victim died as a result of compression to her neck.

The man, who was 16 at the time, has denied raping and murdering Ms Kiely (aged 22) at the Regional Park, Ballincollig on October 26, 2000. He has admitted the manslaughter.

At the Central Criminal Court today Dr Cassidy said that the young Cork woman's death was due to a number of factors due to extensive force being applied across a broad area of Rachel Kiely's neck.

Dr Cassidy was giving evidence based on photographs taken at the original post-mortum. The original report was complied by former State Pathologist Prof John Harbison, who is unable to give evidence.

In response to prosecution counsel, Mr Patrick McCarthy SC, Dr Cassidy said that the pressure applied on the victim's neck might have caused her heart to slow down, and arrest.

This most likely would have come about by someone getting Ms Kiely in an arm lock or a neck hold.

Dr Cassidy said the body of Rachel Kiely was found in the park, curled up in a ball, in a foetal position.

There was a necklace around her neck and blood on the bridge of her nose.

Dr Cassidy said that there were only minor external injuries, such as scratches and bruises on Ms Kiely's body.

There was no evidence of a prolonged struggle, or that she had been restrained.

Dr Cassidy added that there was no evidence to show that the victim had been dragged to rough ground where her body was discovered.

Ms Kiely's clothing was intact, but her underwear had been disturbed.

However, Dr Cassidy added that there were no injuries to suggest that non-consensual sex took place.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Mr Brendan Grehan SC, Dr Cassidy agreed that there were relatively few signs that the victim had been asphyxiated.

Dr Cassidy also agreed that were no defensive sort of injuries found on Ms Kiely that one would usually associate with someone who had been attacked. Her fingernails were fully intact.

It was impossible to tell for how long pressure had been applied on her neck.

In all probability Ms Kiely would have lost consciousness in a matter of seconds, and death would have occurred within minutes.

In response to the trial judge, Mr Justice Barry White, Dr Cassidy said the evidence from the photographs suggested that it was more likely that she had been grabbed in an arm-lock rather than manual strangulation.

She was not able to determine from the photos if Ms Kiely had been grabbed from behind or not.

The trial before a jury of five woman and seven men continues tomorrow.